Video: Modes

Once a year, my grandmother used to go down to a local photo studio to have her portrait taken, but she didn't refer to this is having her picture taken. She always said she was going to have her picture made. As a kid, I always thought that sounded little weird, but now I understand that there is an important difference between those two words. Taking a picture implies that the image is just sitting out there in the world, yours for the taking if you can just get a camera trained on it. But the fact is good photos are more often made. That is you can't simply point a camera at some scenes and walk away with a good shot; instead, you have to make the shot.

Arriving at the best exposure for a photo is part science and part art. In Foundations of Photography: Exposure, Ben Long helps photographers expand their artistic options by giving them a deep understanding of shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and all other critical exposure practices. This course covers the basic exposure controls provided by all digital SLR cameras, as well as most advanced point-and-shoot models. Learn how to master a camera's metering modes, how to use exposure compensation and bracketing, and much more. By the end of the course, you'll know how to develop an "exposure strategy" that will allow you to effectively employ your exposure knowledge in any shooting situation.

Modes

Once a year, my grandmother used to go down to a local photo studio to have herportrait taken, but she didn't refer to this is having her picture taken.She always said she was going to have her picture made.As a kid, I always thought that sounded little weird, but now I understand thatthere is an important difference between those two words.Taking a picture implies that the image is just sitting out there in the world,yours for the taking if you can just get a camera trained on it.But the fact is good photos are more often made.That is you can't simply point a camera at some scenes and walk away with a goodshot; instead, you have to make the shot.

You have to come up with answers to a lot of questions, and make quite afew decisions: from composition to where you're going to stand to your exposure settings.Some images will require more decisions than others, but photography is largelya process of working your way through a lot of options.In the old days when cameras were all manual, you have to make every single oneof this decisions yourself.But with the automatic features on today's cameras, you can choose whichdecisions you want to make and which you want to leave up to the camera.Now somewhere on your camera is a mode control.The shooting mode you choose controls which decisions the camera makes and whichwill be left up to you.

For example, this Canon camera here simply has a mode dial here on the top.I can turn it to change shooting mode.All cameras these days have a full auto mode.In this mode the camera makes every single decision and offers you very littlecontrol, or override.Most cameras also have a program mode, which is marked with a P. This affordsyou a little more control then auto mode and is usually a nice balance ofautomation and manual control.If you're using a smaller camera, like a small point-and-shot camera, youmay not have a mode dial, simply because there may not be room on the camera for a dial.

So you'll dig out your mode there from the menu.Throughout the rest of this course, we'll be discussing the other modes that youmight see on your mode control.What you need to do now is to identify your camera's mode control, learn how touse it, and figure out how to get your camera into program mode.Your cameras manual should walk you through how to do this.Remember, program mode is mostly going to make all relevant decisions foryou, but as you'll see, you'll also have some powerful manual overrides atyour disposal.

There are currently no FAQs about Foundations of Photography: Exposure.

Learn by watching, listening, and doing, Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along Premium memberships include access to all exercise files in the library.

Already a member ?

Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
Learn more

Upgrade to our Annual Premium Membership today and get even more value from your lynda.com subscription:

“In a way, I feel like you are rooting for me. Like you are really invested in my experience, and want me to get as much out of these courses as possible this is the best place to start on your journey to learning new material.”— Nadine H.

Thanks for signing up.

We’ll send you a confirmation email shortly.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.

Keep up with news, tips, and latest courses with emails from lynda.com.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.